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The mission began when our last child graduated from college and we began to look to downsize our living accommodations. We have lived in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, since the late 70s, and as nature lovers were looking for some land with a little elbow room. In 2011, after about a year of searching, we found a five-acre parcel, The Sumac Grove, that suited our needs. All of the New Urbanists are groaning now, ...[continue reading]

Professional Testing, Inc. and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory invite you to participate in a nationwide research study, validating the practices, characteristics, and activities of the four multifamily building job categories listed below. This is your opportunity to directly contribute to the development of the multifamily home energy upgrade workforce.[continue reading]

Competitive bidding is not good for business. Besides the time spent doing an estimate for a job you may not get, there is an additional element that most homeowners are not aware of. The following quote helps explain this:[continue reading]

The National Council on Aging reports that there are more than 23 million Americans aged 60+ that are economically insecure (living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level). For housing developers in the southwest, this number is of particular concern. A recent study by the Arizona Housing Alliance showed that more than 200,000 residents are paying upwards of 78% of their income in rent.[continue reading]

Got this in my email and thought I'd share. Very good article by Joe Laquatra on the current serious lead hazards that may shock you into action and other great stuff—including from Home Energy's Alan Meier, from the folks at Cornell University:
Click here for a PDF file that contains the Spring 2013 issue of Housing & Home Environment News (HHE-News), the Extension Newsletter for the Department of Design & Environmental Analysis (DEA) ...[continue reading]

According to a recent study by Newport Ventures, Inc., a third-party energy consulting firm, insulated siding—vinyl siding with permanently attached foam insulation—can improve a home’s energy efficiency by reducing heat escaping through studs and other framing. While this cladding has been recognized as a continuous insulation option for improving energy performance for many years, now homeowners selecting insulated siding can have the confidence of certification to an ASTM quality ...[continue reading]

Here is more evidence that the occupants of energy efficient, healthy, and affordable housing enjoy better health compared to those in traditional low-income housing.
The results of an in-depth study by Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City of residents who recently moved into LEED-certified low-income multifamily housing showed:
Decreases in continuous daily respiratory symptoms
Decreases in asthma symptoms disrupting sleep
Decreases in urgent visits to a healthcare professional for ...[continue reading]

It has come to my attention that there may be a building science-based conflict in the language of the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).[continue reading]

As energy auditors and raters went about their business of testing homes, performing energy audits and HVAC system inspections, they discovered and reported certain “problems” to the homeowners of Texas. For example, they reported that HVAC systems were oversized, or suffering from massive duct leakage! In late 2011, The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which oversees the HVAC industry, started getting complaints from contractors about these new energy auditors doing work that ...[continue reading]